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Commission advances developer‑funded Westland Drive turn‑lane project amid litigation concerns
Summary
The commission approved a $48,000 civil design contract and an MOU with West Knox Developers to construct a left‑turn lane on Westland Drive tied to the Westland Oaks subdivision; some commissioners expressed concern that pending litigation could delay improvements and recorded abstentions or passes on related votes.
Knox County commissioners approved a civil design contract and a separate memorandum of understanding for road improvements on Westland Drive connected to the Westland Oaks subdivision.
Resolution 405 authorized a $48,000 civil design contract with Robert G. Campbell & Associates to design a left‑turn lane from Westland Drive onto Ridge Climber Road. Director of Engineering and Public Works Jim Snowden said the project met required engineering steps and that an earlier vested approval allowed the developer to move forward with a concept, design and construction plan. Snowden described the turn lane as needed for traffic safety and said the county would manage engineering, procurement and construction.
Commissioner Russell and others raised concerns about pending litigation connected with the development, saying that if litigation produced an injunction it could tie the county's hands or delay work. "My concern is if we link these together... and this gets postponed, it could stop this from happening at all for two or three years," Russell said. Legal staff and the engineering director said they had no record of a judge stopping similar turn‑lane work in county right‑of‑way and noted the MOU would require the developer to reimburse the county for construction costs.
Following discussion, the commission approved the design contract (motion by Commissioner Hill, second by Commissioner Frazier) and approved Resolution 409, the MOU with West Knox Developers (motion by Commissioner Jackson, second by Commissioner Rawls). The transcript records several commissioners choosing to "pass" or abstain on votes related to these items (Commissioner Russell, Commissioner Frazier, Commissioner Thompson recorded as passing on at least one vote). Director Snowden said construction could start in the next construction season and be complete within about a year once reimbursement and permitting are in place.
Next steps: engineering staff will proceed with design, procurement and coordination with the developer; county plans to withhold certificates of occupancy for new phases until required improvements are complete per the agreement.
